Anyone who consistently watches Tennessee soccer knows that Lady Volunteer sophomore forward Amy Neal is a fast, strong player.

That speed and strength were the chief reasons Tennessee soccer head coach Brian Pensky recruited her.

After hearing about Neal from a coach in New Mexico, Pensky saw her play during a campus visit.

“We brought Amy out to our camp and she did great getting in line and playing balls back across,” Pensky said. “(She has) speed, strength and a want to be great.”

Pensky also said Neal has improved significantly from her freshmen to sophomore year, and her stats for this season will tell the same story. It only took Neal a little more than half the season to surpass the number of goals she scored in her freshmen year.

Pensky cited her effort during the spring as a major reason for her improvement.

“The way the soccer season is set up is that the fall is all about preparing for games and trying to win games; the spring is the real time for development and Amy developed a ton in the spring.” Pensky said. “The game in general slowed down for her, she gained more confidence.”

According to Pensky, that confidence has allowed her to become one of the team leaders despite her status as a sophomore.

And although she is just a sophomore, Neal is not uncomfortable with the notion of being a team leader.

“I try to think of myself like (a leader),” Neal said. “I try to give good examples and do my best to make the right the decision.”

One decision Neal makes every game is to play soccer with intensity, out-sprinting opponents down the field on every play and hardly taking a break during games.

It is the type of effort that usually causes fatigue and soreness the day after the game.

“I die,” Neal joked. “But you get used to it, I played like this my whole life, just running. I feel like I need to be there for my teammates and bring intensity onto the field as well onto the bench when I am on the bench. I just put my all on the field every single game despite how tired I am or how sore I am going to be after.”

Neal, however, doesn’t reserve her intensity for soccer games– she also strives to be a great student as well.

Neal, a kinesiology major, said that attending a difficult public school in New Mexico helped her learn how to balance sports and schoolwork.

“Instead of going out and hanging out with friends, just study,” Neal said. “You get used to it.”

Neal’s head coach values athletes who show dedication in the classroom.

“We love that,” Pensky said. “The biggest thing is that it shows that they are intelligent, they are disciplined, they are hard working, and they are self invested. Amy is interested in being great on the soccer field because she is also interested in being great in the classroom now and in her future professional life.”

Neal said that neither school nor sports take priority and that her time in college is finding a balance for both.

“I wouldn’t be here without school, and I wouldn’t be here without soccer either,” Neal said. “So I need to find time for both of them.”